Simulated horse-shaped vehicular toy



Dec. 3, 1957 J. R. MARTINEZ SIMULATED HORSE-SHAPED VEHICULAR TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 23, 1956 INVENTOR J'oseph R. Marbirw;

ATTORNEY 1957 J. R. MARTINEZ 2,8H5,2W

SIMULATED HORSE-SHAPED VEHICULAR TQY Filed Feb. 23, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 62 \d ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,815,219 SIMULATED HORSE-SHAPED VEHICULAR TOY Joseph R. Martinez, Denver, Colo.

Application February 23, 1956, Serial No. 567,209

6 Claims. (Cl. 280-1202) This invention relates to a toy of the vehicular type, and it particularly relates to a tricycle having a body portion shaped to simulate a horse.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy which has all the appearance of a toy horse and which can be used as such by a child, but which can also be used in the manner of any ordinary tricycle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a movable toy horse which can be easily ridden by any child and which is both pleasing in appearance and safe in use.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved toy, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of the steering arrangement at the fore portion of the device.

Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the device of Fig. 1.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a toy, generally designated 10, comprising a body portion 12 in the shape of a horse, and including a head 14, a neck 16, a torso 18, and fore legs 20 and rear legs 24 both simulating brackets. A saddle 25 is provided to accommodate a child sitting on the toy, the upper part of the saddle being of actual saddle construction, while the lower part is painted on the body as are also the straps, etc.

The body 12 may be constructed of any desirable material such as wood, metal, rubber or one of the synthetic resins such as vinyl, polyethylene, or the like.

The fore legs 20 of the horse-shaped body have embedded therein a fork member 22 from which extends a threaded lug 26. The fore legs 20 are part of a generally U-shaped member simulating a gallop which follows the contour of the fork 22. The lug 26 projects through the bridge portion 23 of the U-shaped member, as best shown in Fig. 1.

Molded within or secured within the forward portion of the body is a bracket 28 of generally oval shape. A flattened portion is provided at opposite ends of the bracket and each of these flattened portions is provided with a hole, as at 30 and 32. A vertical bore extends through the body 12 in alignment with these bracket holes 30 and 32.

A vertical post 34, which is hollow in construction, fits through the vertical bore and through the bracket holes 30 and 32 and its lower end is threaded over the lug 26. A nut 36 fits around the lower end of the post 34 between the bracket 28 and the bridge portion 23 of the U-shaped member. Mating threaded holes are provided in the bottom of the post as well as in the nut 36 and through these holes is adapted to extend a screw 38. This screw bears against the lug 26 and thereby acts to frictionally lock the post in place.

A nut 40, similar to nut 36 and having a similar threaded hole to mate with a corresponding hole at the top of the post, is adapted to hold the shaft 42 of a handle-bar bracket 44 in position within the top end of the post, by means of a locking screw 46 similar to screw 38. A handle-bar 48 extends through the bracket 44 and is held therein in the ordinary manner.

By the above construction, the bracket, which is held stationary within the bore of the body, as by frictional engagement, acts as a bracing or supporting means for the weight of the rider.

At the two bottom ends of the fork 22, which is embedded within the U-shaped member, are provided widened portions 50 which are provided with central bearing holes adapted to mate with similar holes 52 in the legs 20 of the U-shaped member. A shaft 54 extends through these holes to provide a support for the front wheel 56.

Hubs 58 are fixed on the shaft for rotation therewith and the wheel 56 is mounted between these hubs. A pair of oppositely extending foot pedals 60 on the ends of shaft 54 are provided for rotating the hubs and the wheel.

At the rear of the horse-shaped body, at the lower portions of each of the legs 24, is provided a support plate or block which is embedded within the leg, such support plates or blocks being indicated at 62. Positioned between the legs 24, and extending through the embedded support plates or blocks is a rear axle 64. These support plates or blocks are preferably made of wood, but may be made of metal or other strong material.

Mounted for rotation at the opposite ends of the axle 64, outside the legs 24, are a pair of hubs indicated at 66 and 68 and having positioned thereon wheels respectively indicated at 70 and 72. Inner and outer flanges 74 and 76 hold each of the hubs on the axle.

A tail 78 extends from the rear of the horse-shaped body to give added effect to the illusion of a moving horse.

Although the body is preferably constructed of a relatively inexpensive material such as plastic, which can easily be molded, the supporting structure such as the wheels, handle-bar, fork, handle-bar supporting post, bracket and axles should be made of a relatively strong material such as iron, steel or, if lightness is desired, of aluminum or the like.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A toy vehicle comprising a simulated animal body, said body having a pair of fore-legs and a pair of rear legs, said fore-legs being part of a generally U-shaped member and having a supporting frame of similar contour embedded therein, a lug extending upwardly from said frame through the bridge portion of said U-shaped member, a bracket within said body, a hollow post supported by said bracket within said body, said lug being telescopically secured within said post to support said U-shaped member on said body, means to releasably clamp said post to said lug, a vertical shaft releasably connected to the upper end of said post above said body, a handle bar member connected to said shaft, a wheel rotatably mounted between said fore-legs, foot pedals con- 3 nected to said wheel, and a wheel rotatably mounted adjacent each rear leg.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said body is constructed of relatively strong, solid molded plastic material and wherein said frame, bracket and post are constructed of relatively strong metallic material.

3. A toy vehicle comprising an animal-shaped body, an integral pair of hind legs on said body, and a separable bracket forming the fore-legs thereof, said bracket comprising a pair of oval shaped legs connected by an integral bridge portion, a support embedded within said body, means on said bracket for releasably and adjustably connecting said bracket to said support, said means being provided on said bridge portion, a wheel journaled between said fore-legs, foot pedals connected to said wheel for-rotating said wheel, and a pair of wheels journaled on an axle supported by said hind legs.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein a rigid frame is embedded within said bracket, said frame corresponding in shape to said bracket, and wherein said means is integrally formed on said frame.

5. In a toy vehicle wherein the body of the vehicle is animal-shaped and is mounted on a tricycle assembly, a bore at the fore portion of said body and extending vertically therethrough, an annular bracing member rigidly positioned and embedded in said body, openings at opposite ends of said bracing member, a vertical, tubular post extending through said vertical bore and through said openings, a separable bracket, in the shape of a pair of integrally connected fore-legs, releasably and adjustably connected to the lower end of said post by means of telescoping members, a wheel rotatably positioned between said fore-legs, a handle-bar assembly releasably and adjustably connected to the upper end of said post by means of telescoping members, integral hind legs on said body, and a wheel rotatably mounted adjacent each hind leg.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein a rigid frame is embedded within said bracketas a support means therefor, one of said telescoping members being integrally connected to said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 614,260 Caruso Nov. 15, 1898 1,193,690 Houghland Aug. 8, 1916 1,499,884 Singer July 1, 1924 1,533,520 Selenkow Apr. 14, 1925 2,738,199 Rand Mar. 13, 1956 

